PHOTO: Jonathan Forte pokes home the Iron's fourth goal.

Bottesford Town 0-4 Scunthorpe United
Report from Birch Park

Scunthorpe won 4-0 in their first friendly of pre-season against Bottesford Town at Birch Park.

Garry Thompson handed the Iron a first half lead with an effort from close range.

Michael O'Connor advanced down the left and crossed for Thompson to tap home on 30 minutes, before the visitors thought they had made it two just six minutes later.

Garry Thompson celebrates his opening goal.

Cliff Byrne stooped low to get on the end of an O'Connor free-kick and head home but it was disallowed for offside.

Then substitutes Jonathan Forte and Bobby Grant added to the advantage in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Forte prodded in from close range after Chris Dagnall's shot was blocked following good work by Nolan.

Then Grant swept home from the edge of the area to make it three before Forte added another right at the end, racing clear to slot home.

Shane Redmond, a goalkeeper on trial from Nottingham Forest, played in the second-half, as manager Nigel Adkins used 21 different players.

Scunthorpe got off to a good start, with Martyn Woolford and Michael O'Connor firing chances wide.

Thompson and Boyes then combined to see a shot cleared off the line in the 22nd minute.

The hosts rarely troubled Nigel Adkins' side, but the boss urged his side to take their chances and communicate better during a break for water midway through the opening period.

Thompson put the visitors ahead on 30 minutes and Byrne had the ball in the net too before seeing his effort disallowed. Nevertheless, the Iron were comfortable with a goal lead at the break.

Barring Josh Wright, the second half saw a completely different side line up, and new signings Chris Dagnall, Bobby Grant and Eddie Nolan all appeared, with Michael Collins ruled out through a minor groin problem.

Grant struck an early shot wide before Nolan and Dagnall combined to set up Forte for the away team's second goal.

Grant soon slotted home the visitors' third after Forte had brought the ball down in the area sand the away team had the game clinched.

Bottesford were full of endeavour but Redmond was rarely troubled.

Johnathan Williams, Andrew Wright and O'Connor - back on in place of Josh Wright - tested the home shotstopper with low shots down to his left, with the first and third efforts going wide and the second drawing a stop.

Forte dragged a shot wide across goal from just inside the area before racing clear and adding a fourth right at the death.

It was a comfortable result for Nigel Adkins' side, who are next in action on Wednesday night when they visit Brigg Town (7.00pm kick-off).

Iron's first-half team: Murphy, Byrne, Mirfin, Milne, Coleman, O'Connor, Togwell, J. Wright, Woolford, Boyes, Thompson.
Iron's second-half team: Redmond, Raynes, Jones, Canavan, Nolan, Williams, A. Wright, J. Wright (replaced by O'Connor midway through), Grant, Dagnall, Forte.